Florida lawmakers move to ban paper straws over PFAS concerns
By avagrace // 2026-01-15
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  • Florida state lawmakers introduced SB 958 and HB 2195 to prohibit paper straws, citing research showing they contain PFAS ("forever chemicals") that pose serious health risks, including cancer and immune suppression.
  • Paper straws – once promoted as biodegradable alternatives to plastic – have been found to contain high levels of PFAS (up to 90% in some brands), added for water resistance but leaching into drinks.
  • The bills prioritize public health over environmental concerns, arguing PFAS exposure outweighs plastic pollution risks, while also ending local "patchwork" bans and aligning with Trump's 2025 federal paper straw ban.
  • Critics note paper straws degrade quickly, failing to meet the needs of disabled individuals who rely on single-use straws, highlighting flaws in previous eco-policies.
  • Researchers recommend stainless steel, glass, or simply skipping straws, while some businesses explore bamboo or hemp options – though PFAS traces in plant-based alternatives call for stricter testing.
In a striking reversal of environmental trends, Florida lawmakers are moving to ban paper straws across the state, citing alarming research that these supposed eco-friendly alternatives contain persistent, cancer-linked toxins. Last month, state legislators introduced Senate Bill (SB) 958 and its identical companion, House Bill (HB) 2195. These bills seek to restrict local bans on plastic straws while outlawing paper ones, directly challenging a wave of green policies adopted in states like California and New York. This legislative push, grounded in emerging science about "forever chemicals," forces a difficult public reckoning: Are we trading one environmental harm for a more insidious health threat? For years, the narrative was straightforward. Plastic straws, symbols of single-use waste, clog waterways, harm marine life, and linger for centuries. In response, numerous municipalities and states enacted bans, championing paper straws as the biodegradable solution. Florida itself saw cities like Orlando and Miami Beach adopt such measures. This shift mirrored a global movement to reduce plastic pollution, with consumers reluctantly accepting the quicker-sogging paper substitute as a necessary sacrifice for the planet. Beneath this green veneer, however, a more complex danger was lurking. Independent scientific studies began detecting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS or "forever chemicals") in a high percentage of paper straws. These human-made compounds are called "forever" because they do not break down in the environment or the human body. Peer-reviewed research, including a 2023 study, found these substances in nearly 90% of paper straw brands tested. The bills posit that the potential health risks from PFAS exposure outweigh the documented environmental damage from plastic straws. PFAS exposure is linked to a suppressed immune system, elevated cancer risk and reproductive harms. They accumulate in the body over time. BrightU.AI's Enoch engine explains that paper straws contain PFAS because manufacturers often add these chemicals to make the straws water-resistant and prevent them from disintegrating quickly in liquids. Unfortunately, these chemicals can then leach into drinks and pose health risks.” Conversely, plastic straws degrade into microplastics tiny particles that infiltrate the human bloodstream and organs. Virtually every person on Earth now carries both PFAS and microplastics in their body.

From plastic to PFAS: Florida's war on straws

The bills explicitly call for "government policy driven by science" and aim to end a "patchwork of local regulations." If passed, the law would take effect immediately, with a deadline of Jan. 1, 2027, for local governments to align their ordinances. This move echoes a 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump that banned paper straws in federal operations, criticizing them as nonfunctional and chemically risky. This is not the Sunshine State's first foray into the straw debate: In 2019, the state legislature passed a bill to preempt local plastic straw bans, but it was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The new bills represent a different tactic, using public health concerns about PFAS to justify state-level intervention. This occurs against a national backdrop of growing alarm over PFAS contamination, which pollutes the drinking water of an estimated 200 million Americans. The scientific studies highlighting the PFAS problem often conclude by suggesting alternatives: stainless steel, glass nor simply forgoing a straw altogether. Some Florida businesses have already pioneered a shift to straws made from bamboo, hemp, or algae. These options may offer a middle path, though research noting PFAS in some plant-based straws suggests rigorous, independent testing of any alternative is essential. The legislation also raises concerns about accessibility for people with disabilities, for whom single-use straws are often a necessity. The bill argues that paper straws, which can quickly lose structural integrity, "marginalize residents with disabilities." This highlights a critical oversight in many well-intentioned bans: the failure to ensure that replacements are functionally adequate for all citizens. While Florida contemplates this ban, other states are moving in different directions. New Jersey, for example, is considering a bill to ban the automatic distribution of single-use plastic utensils. Public sentiment in Florida appears mixed. Some residents welcome the move away from unsatisfactory paper straws, while others worry about the burden on businesses constantly adapting to changing regulations. This friction captures the consumer fatigue that sets in when solutions presented as virtuous are later revealed to be flawed. Florida's potential paper straw ban is more than a regulatory shift; it reveals how solving one complex problem can inadvertently exacerbate another. Watch this video explaining how paper straws causes cancer. This video is from The People Of The Qur'an (TPQ) channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include:  DailyMail.co.uk MSN.com GulfCoastNewsNow.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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